Investors Chronicle

The streaming industry has some big names at the top, with Netflix and Amazon Prime both boasting over 150 million worldwide subscribers each. But that has not stopped Hollywood giant Walt Disney throwing its hat into the streaming ring with its latest project, Disney+.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Professor Baruch Lev is the soothingly eloquent voice of reason in a world of accounting which is becoming increasingly unhelpful. He - and the IC’s very own Algy Hall - argue that the financial reports do not reflect the true value of companies because they fail to account for the all important intangible assets. This podcast will open your eyes to the flaws in accounting. To understand how investors can sidestep these issues head to the IC's website to read Algy's reinvention of value.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

With nearly 40 million cars on the road, the UK motoring business is worth around £80bn. And that is just a fraction of the global market: between automotive manufacturing, sales, you’re looking at the world’s largest industry.But is it one worth investing in? This is an industry undergoing massive change which is sometimes out of its control. Which companies are up to the challenges?   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this week's Alpha podcast, John and Phil talk cigarettes, streaming and snacks, and why tricky times for BATS, Disney and PepsiCo might now mean opportunities for investors.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The UK loves chocolate - the average Brit eats around 8kg of chocolate a year. And we’re not the only ones. The chocolate industry is worth over $100bn worldwide, and growing. So grab a hot chocolate, reach for a box of celebrations, and join in the discussion about the big business of confectionery.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this week's Alpha podcast, John Hughman chats to Algy Hall about the thinking behind his Alpha stock screens, why recent data suggests UK shares could be coming back into fashion, and how investment trusts could be a good way to play the recovery.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What's a sensible proportion of your portfolio to invest in Bitcoin and other crypto assets? James Norrington speaks to Vilhelm German, Chief Technology Officer at Swiss crypto exchange Bitnuk.com. who as you would expect is bullish but he still believes investors should be circumspect. Since the interview was recorded last week Bitcoin broke the $50,000 value mark, on news of buying by Tesla, another strong signal that crypto assets are here to stay.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On the week's Not Your Normal Finance Show we visit the volatile world of cryptocurrencies, and the most famous of them all: bitcoin. John Hughman speaks to the IC's Oliver Telling to find out what bitcoin is, how you can buy it, and whether you should. And James Norrington hears the bull case from Vilhelm German, Chief Technology Officer at Swiss crypto exchange Bitnuk.com.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

China is a market that investors simply cannot ignore. Despite being the epicentre of the pandemic and at the helm of geopolitical tensions, it had the best performance of any major stock market last year and innovation is proceeding in some Chinese companies at a rate second to none. But there are concerns about bubbles forming in some sectors. In this interview, Dale Nicholls, manager of Fidelity China Special Situations, says there are still plenty of companies with great growth potential at reasonable prices - albeit not as attractive as they were a year ago, since when the fund’s share price has doubled.Mr Nicholls describes how he offers broad access to the Chinese economy by focussing on companies that serve the enormous power of China's growing middle classes. He talks about why he is not concerned about frenetic private investor trading in China driving a bubble, and how the Chinese stock market has matured since the 2015 market crash. He also divulges how he navigates social and governance

On this week's Alpha Podcast John and Phil reminisce about their dotcom boom days and the bubble-like behaviour of today's markets, and why it could be worth drowning your sorrows with a snifter of Diageo shares.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It’s been a mixed year for the health and fitness industry. On the one hand, gyms, clubs, and pools have all had prolonged periods of closure, but on the other, you only need to go down to your local park at the weekend to witness the crowds of walkers, runners and cyclists.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this week's Alpha podcast John and Phil go on the hunt for more shares with the feelgood factor, despite some worrying words in Terry Smith's latest Fundsmith letter  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Donald Trump’s ban from Twitter, Facebook and Snapchat has put private media groups under the spotlight. Were they right to do it? Should social media be self-regulated or does it need an external body?And are the regulators of the mainstream media even getting it right? We answer all those thorny questions in our first episode of 2021.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this week's Alpha Podcast John Hughman and Phil Oakley talk about the prospects for three companies that have seen business boom as a result of Covid-restrictions: Games Workshop, Frontier Developments and Just Eat Takeaway.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The destruction of risk free returns thanks to low interest rates means investors have to understand the risks inherent in chasing gains from assets like shares. James Norrington talks to Graham Harrison, Managing Director of Asset Risk Consultants (ARC) about the challenges facing portfolio managers.ARC runs the Private Client Index series, a selection of dynamic risk-weighted benchmarks for the asset management industry, based on over 250,000 contributing portfolios from 108 asset management firms worldwide.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Baillie Gifford’s flagship fund, Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust (SMT), has delivered eye watering returns in recent years. In 2020 alone, the fund’s net assets doubled to over £18.5bn. In this interview, the trust’s co-managers James Anderson and Tom Slater tell Mary McDougall where the next leg of growth is and how they approach finding the next stock market stars. Mr Anderson says we are entering a period of change unrivalled since the industrial revolution, and they both defend their continued support of Tesla, the fund’s largest holding.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jeremy Gratham, co-founder of GMO Asset Management speaks to Nilushi Karunaratne about whether companies, governments and investors are taking enough action on climate change, what he hopes to see from the incoming Biden administration and how investors should see climate change as an opportunity for their portfolios.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Wheaton Precious Metals chief executive Randy Smallwood on the steaming business model, gold's prospects and how to operate in a world where ESG is getting more and more important. Plus why Wheaton has added a London listing.Looking for more? We dive into Wheaton's business model.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this week's Alpha Podcast John Hughman and Phil Oakley discuss the crazy world of unicorn IPOs, the bidding war for Codemasters, and why Avon Rubber's share price has been stopped in its tracks.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

With Christmas only a week and a half away, we thought we’d attempt to bring the festive cheer with a look at Christmas shopping.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.